Chapter 6 Flashcards
(27 cards)
how do social groups shape our actions? (3 ways)
- norms of solidarity demand conformity - People often prioritize group loyalty over moral considerations. Examples include Nazi soldiers who committed atrocities out of loyalty to their comrades
- Structures of authority tend to render people
obedient. - Stanley Milgram’s experiment (shock experiment with volts and a subject) demonstrated that people tend to obey authority figures, even when it leads to harming others. - Bureaucracies are highly effective structures
of organizing group action. - The Nazi genocide was facilitated by a highly structured bureaucracy that divided tasks into small, detached roles, making it easier for participants to avoid confronting the full horror of their actions.
what is the concept of 6 degrees of seperation
the idea that you are connected to people closer than you think.
- found that on average, it only takes 6 connections (people) to get you in contact with a politician.
define a node
the thing that’s being connected, be it
individuals, countries, organizations, companies, etc.
a tie
the connection between two nodes.
dyad
a connection between two nodes and one tie
- A dyad is a social group consisting of two individuals. It is the smallest and most basic form of a social relationship.
define a triad
a connection between 3 nodes and 3 ties
define a closed network
A network where all nodes are connected to all other nodes
ex: A small medical team in a hospital department where every member regularly communicates and collaborates, ensuring that no one is isolated from the network.
define an open network
A network where some nodes are not connected to others
ex: A group of healthcare professionals working in different hospitals who occasionally collaborate but do not all know each other directly. Some doctors may be connected, while others remain unlinked.
define virtual communities
users of online networks (e.g., Instagram, TikTok) tend to gain information and emotional support, solidify existing offline relationships, and strengthen community ties.
social groups
consist of interconnected individuals who identify with each other and follow shared norms, roles, and statuses. Membership is clear, with defined boundaries.
Example: A sociology class, where students and professors have specific roles and rules.
social categories
group people based on shared characteristics but without personal connections or shared norms.
Example: “People who like coffee” or “people who play chess” do not form an actual group but share a common trait.
primary groups
Small, intimate groups with strong emotional ties, lasting relationships, and unwritten norms. Example: Family and close friends.
secondary groups
Larger, more impersonal groups with weaker emotional ties, limited interaction, and temporary relationships. Example: Classes or colleagues at work.
what is the Asch experiment
demonstrated the power of peer pressure and how individuals may conform to a group to fit in or avoid conflict, even when they know the group is wrong.
(celebrities choosing the wrong length of line and others agreed even when they knew it was incorrect).
what is the outcome of the Asch experiment
- The likelihood of conformity increases as
group size increases to three or four members. - As group cohesiveness increases, so does the
likelihood of conformity. - Social status affects the likelihood of conformity.
- Culture matters.
- The appearance of unanimity affects the
likelihood of conformity
define bystander apathy
Occurs when people observe someone in an
emergency but offer no help.
define in-group
People who belong to a group and often see themselves as superior to outsiders.
define out-group
People excluded from the in-group, often viewed as “lesser” in some way.
what are the types of societies
- Foraging societies
- Pastoral and Horticultural societies
- Agricultural societies
- Industrial societies
- Postindustrial societies
- Postnatural societies
foraging societies
These societies rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants for survival, typically with small, mobile populations.
Pastoral and Horticultural Societies
Pastoral societies domesticate animals for food, while horticultural societies cultivate crops using simple tools, both leading to more permanent settlements.
Agricultural Societies
These societies use advanced farming techniques, including plows and irrigation, to produce large-scale crops, supporting larger, more complex communities.
Industrial Societies
These societies rely on mechanized production, factories, and mass manufacturing, driving urbanization and technological progress.
Postindustrial Societies
Focus on service industries, information technology, and knowledge-based work, with less emphasis on manufacturing.
